The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-08
A GIGANTIC SCHEME.
Great Plans for the Development of China
by Philadelphia Capitalists.

Great Plans for the Development of China
by Philadelphia Capitalists.
Philadelphia Record.
few days ago it was publicly announced that
the Chinese government had granted to Phila-
delphia syndicate headed by Wharton Barker
the absolute control for fifty years of tele-
phone system which the syndicate intends to es-
tablish in China. 1t is not generally known that
this step was the initiatory in one of the
most gigantic financial en- terprises the world has
ever KNOWN but such is the fact and ENJOYS of
the Chinese government are tabout to start for
this country to make arrangements with the
syndicate to establish complets system of
railroads, banks, mines and iron manufactures
in the Chinese Empire. Mr.. Barker was seen at
his residence in Jenkintown last evening and
from him were obtained the facts of the case.
II must admit" said Mr.. Barker, that the
concessions for the telephone were not our en-
tire object In fact. when the matter was first
preached said that if that were all l would not
60 into the enterprise; but if the Chinese govern
ment would also concede to privileges for
building railroads L would enter into the
project The telephone privilege has been
granted US for fifty years, whereas il only
recommended for thirty years, and have
every reason to believe that our other plans will
be as well received Our plan is briefly this:
To establish long and short-distance telephone
systems throughout the empire, TO build rail-
roads, develop the coal and iron fields, establish
iroE-mills for the manufacture of rails
and locomotives, and to introduce banking
system. The railroad lines as contemplated
would be one from Tien tsn, the seaport of Pc
king. to Shanghai, probably following the
Grand Canal much OF the distance. The next
link In the system would be line inland from
Shanghai to Marking, and thence south to Can
ton. This would give about 2 600 miles of sea
coast and inland railroads. Then il would prob
ably be necessary to run line across the Rus
sian frontier at the north to parallel the Russian
road and serve as a protective line.
~ here in the mountains" continued Mr..
Barker with his finger on the northern part of
CHINA on the map before him, ARE extensive
iron deposits, and there is coal ali over the
country. Our ultimate object would be to man
ufacture both rails and locomotives for the rail-
roads, but OF course that could not be done at
first.
''As for banks, there are none in China at pres
ent, except the foreign institutions. Our idea
braces the establishment of q complete banking
system. with banks in the large cities They
would be banks of deposit and issue and would
also deal in securities.
Our policy, In carrying out our plans. NAV
be expressed in few words. Our desire ia To en-
pIoy the natives in everything as far as possible
nsing them for every position save the highest
Instruments and in fact, everything we can ont
sr Chinese material and with native labor
Most i'm portant of all. we shall endeavor to
mite Chinese and American capital IL all the
enterprises
General Wilson, in his book on China Just
published, expresses the views upon which we
build our hopes He says, In the first place,
that no foreign enterprises in China will be sue
tessful unless the government shall take the
Initiative. While the great mass of the people
are poor, still there ID ample capital to put into
any accepted project Although the country is
row swarming with people, yet ii it should be
developed and facilities furnished for communi-
sation between the different sections, IL would
readily support many more than IL now does.
There is ample capital at hand TO carry out
BUR plans, but we do not want TO use all Amer
lean means. We want to have the Chinese put
their money in also. In order to give them an iva
terest in the enterprises and insure their sta
biity All the American capital to be u ed
comes from this city. am not at liberty to
give the names of the gentlemen, but they
Oil PhilAdelpbians can say that Jay Gould